Advocates for in-person schooling support presented by Buhisan community leader
With the commencement of the 2025-2026 academic year drawing near, Buhisan Barangay Captain Gremar Barete has suggested face-to-face classes at the Buhisan Elementary School, despite concerns over the school's structurally unsound buildings.
This proposal, however, hinges on the weather conditions and recommendations from the Department of Education (DepEd) and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. In a text message on May 28, 2025, Barete reiterated the barangay's ongoing commitment to monitoring student safety.
Cracks have been identified in the principal's office, yet Barete states there currently is no feasible alternative location for classes. As a result, the school will continue to be utilized.
Meanwhile, outgoing Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is awaiting key recommendations from the DepEd, Local School Board (LSB), city's disaster office, and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 regarding the potential relocation and setup of Buhisan Elementary and Night High School.
Garcia plans to assemble a meeting with the LSB, city's disaster office, and DepEd within the coming week to discuss the school's future. The mayor emphasized his intention for the LSB to assess the school's current structure for safety before determining whether it is suitable for classes.
As for the property intended for the new school site, Garcia mentioned that the LSB would need to pass a resolution requesting its purchase. The City eyes a 4,000-square-meter lot near the Buhisan Barangay Hall for P20 million, priced at P5,000 per square meter. The City administration is waiting for the LSB's resolution and recommendations before initiating negotiations with the property owner.
With only a few weeks remaining in his term, Mayor Garcia acknowledges that the lot's purchase will extend beyond his tenure, but he hopes that the processing can begin during his final days in office.
Buhisan Elementary and Night High School was placed under a state of emergency on March 18 due to the presence of cracks in the school buildings.[Source: JPS]
The local leadership is actively pursuing the relocation of Buhisan Elementary School for improved safety and operational purposes ahead of the upcoming school year. A resolution is expected to set the process in motion for negotiations with the property owner. Prospective sites are yet to be announced.
Despite the structural issues at Buhisan Elementary School, the local leadership is actively pursuing the relocation of the school for improved safety and operational purposes, especially with the upcoming education-and-self-development phase during the 2025-2026 academic year. However, the weather conditions and recommendations from the Department of Education (DepEd) and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will play a significant role in determining whether face-to-face classes can be conducted at the current location or at a new site.
